Broadcasting (Apr - June 1950)

COLOR HEARING NEARS END CTI Testimony Heard )OLOR television hearings before FCC neared the finish line Thurslay, with only two witnesses remaining to be heard. Testimony was :onfined to cross examination and rebuttal on Color Television Inc.'s lemonstration of its system for FCC at San Francisco May 17 [Tele casting, May 22]. At the close of Thursday's sesjsion, FCC expressed hope that the [hearings, which started last September, would wind up Friday or jtoday (Monday) at the latest (see 'story At Deadline) . Remaining witnesses were Samuel B. Smith, San Francisco patent attorjney and engineer, for CTI; and E. W. Chapin, head of FCC Lab Div., on further interference experimentation in the laboratory. Col. Donald K. Lippincott, patent attorney and CTI color expert, explained procedures of CTI in its demonstration and under examination directed by counsel summarized the firm's position in the hearing. He indicated CTI would favor a multiple standards decision on an experimentation basis. CTI presented in evidence a report outlining a limited amount of field testing it has made of its system. Also included were diagrams of its interlaced shift ; co-channel interference tests; TV synchronizing waveform, horizontal deflection ' and sync unit, all demonstrated in San Francisco. Characteristics already shown by CTI, Col. Lippincott said, are sufficient to make the system "ready for standardization." However, he modified his statement to point ' out that all equipment used by each of three systems have been "makeshift and obsolete" in character. He suggested that before the Commission sets standards, the systems be demonstrated with the use of a direct view tube, such as the type produced by RCA, giving "controlled conditions for comparison." More Work Needed Emphasizing that commercial color telecasting would not be practical now, Col. Lippincott stressed the need for more "technical development before receiver sales are encouraged." The direct view tube, he said, was one of those technical refinements which could be put to immediate use. He said CTI had been promised a Lawrence direct view tube from Paramount within 60 days from the date of the San Francisco demonstration (see story, Telecasting, p. 3). Of the compatible systems, Col. Lippincott continued, "CTI is the most reliable." He said an estimated 15-20 unsolicited telephone calls were received by his firm at San Francisco from public viewers of the black-and-white transmissions during the color demonstration. Most of the callers asked when they could buy receivers, he said. Strength of the CTI system, Col. Lippincott said, is its synchronizing signal which "is most applicable to select the line or field sequentials." He said he noticed Page 61 • BROADCASTING no color breakup of the CTI picture during the demonstration and added that he believed the interlace shift was the best pattern (double shift in which each picture line appears in all three primary colors — green, red, blue — in the course of six field scannings) . He said the CTI system could be preferred over RCA or CBS because of its "extreme accuracy to which synchronization must be maintained for a high fidelity of color." Col. Lippincott reiterated that "there are serious technical problems in the RCA system" and that regardless of the improvement the direct view tube may make, these inherent weaknesses will remain. Hits RCA Questioned on CTI President Arthur S. Matthews' statement in San Francisco charging RCA with monopoly in the radio industry, Col. Lippincott said "such an excess of [patent] power is appalling to me." He called for an open pool of patents in the communications field to permit independent inventors to find a salable market for their developments. RCA, he said, is the only market to which inventors can bring their creations. He indicated that both he and Mr. Matthews were urging the Commission, if it should adopt RCA standards, "to see that the [monopoly] power not be abused." Mr. Matthews had charged RCA with holding or controlling 9,000 patents in the radio field, employing licensing rules and requiring royalties from manufacturing competitors while continuing to be "both patent licensor and competing manufacturer." Compatability Issue CTI's supremacy over the CBS color system, Col. Lippincott said, could be summed up in one word — compatibility. If the FCC could hold up its color decision until all parties involved in the proceding were supplied with a direct view tube, the CTI expert said, the systems could be demonstrated on an equal basis and the Commission "could go on and allocate channels in the UHF and the VHF." Comr. George E. Sterling asked the witness what technical developments would be worked upon by CTI should the FCC "give you another year?" Col. Lippincott said he believed his firm would experiment further on phosphors, on its circuits and on other developments which may materialize in the future. Multiple standards, he said, would be welcome by CTI "on an experimental basis" but for commercial purposes, problems would "roll up like a snowball." The colonel pointed up the "invested rights of receiver buyers" which, he said, would be jeopardized by authorization of multiple standards for commercial color telecasting. Experimentation, he said, would give CTI time to "prove our system to the satisfaction" of the Commission, the experimenters and to the public. Conversion of sets from UHF to VHF, he opined, would be a big undertaking, but "that would be nothing like the problem of converting sets from black-and-white to color." MOVIES WARNED Join With TV — Streibert THEODORE C. STREIBERT, president of WOR (AM, FM, TV) New York and board chairman of MBS, last Thursday warned the motion picture industry to wake up and get together with television before it's too late. Interviewed in Hollywood, Mr. Streibert said that the movie maker has "a so-what" attitude about TV. The picture business is forgetting — on purpose — a fundamental of the entertainment world — that "the show is the thing." CBS LAND PURCHASE Plans Coast TV City WITH price said to be in excess of $2% million, CBS is purchasing acreage at Beverly Blvd. and Fairfax Ave. in Los Angeles, including that occupied by Gilmore Stadium, to erect a West Coast Television City. Initial parcel is 15 acres with : property extending three blocks east on Beverly Blvd. and more than a block south on Fairfax. It is part of the famous "Gilmore Island" and is adjacent to Gilmore Field and Farmers Market. It is understood that the deal calls for an option clause for purchase of additional acreage of "Gilmore Island" should CBS so desire. CBS will build "from the ground up" for future needs and expansion, it was said. Construction is expected to start by July 21, 1951, and provision will be made for color TV which CBS has pioneered since 1940. The date marks the 20th anniversary of the inauguration by CBS of America's first regular schedule of television broadcasting in New York City. Selection of the site was made after, several months study and investigation of practically every available developed and undeveloped property in the Hollywood area. CBS executives concluded that only by starting from the ground up could a West Coast plant be planned and constructed which would adequately serve television's requirements on both a near and long term basis. With James Landauer Assoc. of New York acting as consultants for CBS, property is being purchased from Mrs. Elizabeth J. Hilty and Mrs. Frances L. Hilen, daughters of Earl B. Gilmore. Coldwell, Banker & Co., Los Angeles, negotiated for the sellers. Starts Survey Taking advantage of all foreseeable future trends in design and technique, CBS is initiating an exhaustive functional and engineering survey designed to capitalize on past experience as builders and producers of radio and television shows, the announcement said. An architectural study will be made to encompass new and revolutionary concepts of the most effective and efficient forms and designs. CBS also would like to have its own Los Angeles TV station. There has been talk with Earle C. Anthony to acquire KFI-TV. Inspection too has been made of KTSL (TV) owned and operated by Don Lee Broadcasting System, and now part of Thomas S. Lee estate. CBS owns 49% stock interest in KTTV Hollywood and would dispose of that to Los Angeles Times which has 51% control, if deal for a station could be worked out. Don Lee Bid Seen It is generally expected in the trade that CBS, having acquired its new television city site, will be among those bidding for Don Lee TV and radio properties when they go on the market, to settle the estate. Regional network stations, it was pointed out, could be disposed of, but CBS would retain KTSL and the building property for use. With CBS having outgrown its Columbia Square headquarters on Sunset Blvd., the network is sorely in need of additional executive offices and studios for Hollywood AM originations too. Executives as a result have also inspected the Don Lee studio building at 1313 Vine St., with thought to buv thus operate from both buil As it now stands, CBS rents about 15% of Don Lee studi: space for program originations, and has other outside studios on rental basis. May 29, 1950 TELECASTING Page 7